Automatic fire-sprinkler



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Patented Feb. 7, I899. L. A. WESTON.

AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER.

(Apphcatxon filed. Apr 8, 1898) (No Modei.)

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

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UNITnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY A. WESTON, OF ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,242, dated February7, 1899.

Application filed April 8, 1898. Serial No. 676,874. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEROY A. WEsroN, of Adams, in the county ofBerkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Automatic Fire-Sprinklers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of fireextinguishers in which thevalve for the supply-pipe is held to its seat by a support formed of twoor more parts held together by solder or other metal that melts at acomparatively low temperature to unloose the parts and release thevalve.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of thischaracter that will act effectively to hold the valve seated against thepressure of the water in the pipe so long as the joint between its partsremains unbroken no matter what amount of ordinary pressure is put onthe valve, and yet at the same time readily break its joint to releasethe valve when the fusible metal is acted on by heat of a temperaturehigh enough to endanger the adjacent woodwork or the like.

With this end in View my invention consists of certain constructions andarrangements of the parts, which I shall first describe and then pointout the novel features in the accompanying claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation ofmy invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a detail view of a spreader used in connection with my device. Fig..4: is a vertical section of the complete device. Fig. 5 illustrates thevalve-support with parts in normal position. Fig. 6 is a similar viewillustrating the inceptive movement of the parts, and Fig. 7 is a detailview of the valvesupport with its parts separated one from the other.

The nozzleA is screw-threaded at a for attachment to a water-pipe and isformed with a yoke-frame a for the valve-support. This frame has apolygonal base a to facilitate the application of a wrench, and theupper face thereof is grooved to form a seat in which are adapted to beheld the valve B and washers b b.

The valve-support O is composed of two main members D and E, arrangedwhen in position in the frame C6 one above the other.

member D seated in an indentation b in the valve and with the uppermember E resting upon the fulcrum edge (1 and upper surface of thehollow arm (1 The upper bearingsnrface e of the upper member is incontact with a screw S, adjustably held in theupper end of theyoke-frame, the said screw being held in adjusted position by lock-nutss and 8'. Now by reason of the pressure of the fluid in the pipe againstthe under side of the valve B pressure is exerted in a direct linebetween the bearing-points cl and a which would tend to tilt the uppermember E and collapse the valve-support, and to hold the saidvalve-support together I employ the following devices:

A groove R is provided in the outer face of the extension (Z of thelower member D, and an opening 1 leads from said groove to the innerface of said extension directly above the mouth or upper surface of thehollow arm d This opening is contiguous to the recess 6 In this recessan L- shaped restraining key F is designed to be located, with its shortarm f in the recess a and its long arm f in the groove R. A fusiblemetal is now run in the groove R and recess 6 whereby to hold the saidkey in position. Now it will be seen that so long as the restraining-keyF is in place the pressure brought to bear upon the bearing-points cland a can in no wise tilt the upper member E to the releasing of theValve, and even should the short arm f become loosened in the recess ethe joint will not be broken, as the upper wall of the opening 1" actsas a fulcrum for the key, which latter cannot rock thereon so long asthe long'arm thereof adheres to the groove R.

I preferably employ a coil-spring H, which is inclosed within the hollowarm d of the lower member and bears against the lower face of the uppermember, at the bearing-surwill face e thereof, so that no matter howlittle pressure is in the pipe to be exerted against theoppositely-disposed bearing-points d and e the upper member E will betilted positively whenever the restraining-key is allowed to be tiltedby the melting of the solder or the like.

It is to be noted that the spring H by being inclosed in the hollow arm(1 is rendered free from atmospheric influence, so that its tension isnever varied.

To spread the water issuing through the nozzle. I provide a spreader P,fitted on the screw S and consisting of a circular piece of metal formedwith a series .of radial cuts forming wings, which latter are bent atvarious angles to the axis of the spreader.

It will be observed that I have provided an automatic fire-sprinklerwhich is very efficient and one which while positive in operation isvery safe, as the valve-support will not break at the joints until thesolder is melted and the restraining-key and upper member thereoftilted.

Owing to the fact that the spring II is inclosed in the hollow arm it isentirely protected from atmospheric changes. 1

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a valve-support for automatic firesprinklers, the combination ofthe separable members fulcrumed one upon the other, the lower memberhaving an extension above the upper member, and a restraining-keyheld insaid extension and having one end bearing upon the upper side of theupper member, as set forth.

2. In a valve-support for automatic firesprinklers, the combination ofthelowermember formed with a fulcrum edge and bearingsurface and anextension above said bearingsurface, an upper member mounted upon saidfulcrum edge and bearing-surface, and a restraining-key held in saidextension and engaging the upper side of said upper member directlyabove said bearing-surface, as set forth.

3. An automatic fire-sprinkler, provided with a valve, a supporttherefor formed with an upper and a lower member, the lower member beingprovided with an edge on which the upper member is fulcrumed, abearing-surface for one end of said upper member, and an extension abovesaid surface, the said extension being formed with a groove 011 itsouter face and an opening leading therefrom to its inner face, the uppermember being formed on its upper face with a recess against saidopening,and an L-shaped restraining-key having its longer arm located insaid groove and its short arm extending through said opening into thesaid recess of the upper member, going held in position by fusiblemetal, as set orth.

4. The combination with the frame, and the valve therein, of the supportfor the valve, said support consisting of a lower member, an uppermember fulcrumed thereupon so as to tilt when pressure is applied to thevalve, the lower member having a hollow arm on which the end of theupper member rests, a restraining-key connecting the said members and bywhich the tilting is prevented, the said key being held in place byfusible metal, and a spring inclosed in said hollow arm and pressingagainst the end of said upper member thereabove to positively tilt thesame, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a valve-support for fire-sprinklers, the combination of the upperand lower members separably con nected together, the lower member havinga fulcrum edge on which the upper member is mounted, a hollow armsupporting one end of said upper member, and an extension from saidhollow arm and rising above the supported end of the upper member, arestraining-key mounted in said extension and engaging the upper side ofsaid supported end to prevent tilting of the same, and a spring inclosedin said hollow arm and bearing against the opposite side of saidsupported end, as set forth.

6. In a valve-support for automatic firesprinklers the combination ofthe lower member, the upper member mounted thereon so as to tilt whenpressure is applied to the valve, the lower member having an extensionrising above the upper member and formed with a grooved rear face and anopening leading from said grooved face to its front face, and an L-shaped restraining-key having its longer memberlocated in said grooveand its shorter member inserted through saidopening and engaging thesaid upper member to prevent its tilting, as set forth.

7. In a valve-support for automatic firesprinklers, the combination ofthe lower member formed with a fulcrum edge and a bearing-surface inhorizontal alinement, and an opening above said bearing-surface, anupper member resting upon said fulcrum edge and bearing-surface, and arestraining-key inserted through said opening and engaging the saidupper member to hold it in place, as set forth.

8. In a valve-support for automatic firesprinklers, the combination ofthe lower member formed with a fulcrum edge and a bearing-surface inhorizontal alinement, and an opening above said bearing-surface, anupper member mounted on said fulcrum edge and having one end resting onsaid bearingsurface, the said end on its upper face being provided witha recess, and a restraining-key having a bent end inserted through thesaid opening and fitted in said recess, asset forth.

LEROY A. IVESTON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES HIsER, AUGUSTUS P. I'IOLAHAN.

